title: Comorbid persistent lower respiratory symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder 5-6 years post-9/11 in responders enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Co-occurrence of lower respiratory symptoms (LRS) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been increasingly recognized among responders and survivors of the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster. Information is limited on the degree which comorbidity intensifies symptoms and compromises quality of life across exposed groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among responders who completed the first and second Registry surveys, measures of respiratory illness, psychological distress, and diminished quality of life were compared between responders comorbid for LRS and PTSD and responders with only LRS or PTSD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 14,388 responders, 40% of those with LRS and 57% of those with PTSD were comorbid. When demographic and WTC exposure-related factors were controlled, comorbid responders compared to those with LRS alone were twice as likely to have frequent dyspnea and to have sought care for dyspnea. Compared to responders with PTSD alone, comorbid responders were 2.1 times more likely to report intense re-experiencing of the disaster, 2.5 times more likely to express feelings of significant non-specific psychological distress, and 1.4 times more likely to have received mental health care. Comorbid responders were approximately three times more likely to report only fair or poor general health and more than twice as likely to report being unable to perform usual activities for ≥14 of 30 days before interview.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outcomes in comorbid responders were similar to or more severe than in comorbid survivors. Health care and disaster relief providers must suspect comorbid illness when evaluating responders' respiratory or mental illnesses and consider treatment for both.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, World Trade Center Health Registry, Long Island City, New York.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Farfel
authors.forename: Carey B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Maslow
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cone
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Brackbill
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Stellman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D060731:Emergency Responders / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: World Trade Center; comorbidity; disaster response; longitudinal study; mental health; posttraumatic stress disorder; respiratory illness